How To Get Unhigh: Tips For Reducing The THC Buzz

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Medical News TodaySubscribe8 ways to get “unhigh”

Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Ruth Eagle — Updated on October 9, 2024

Shift focus and relax
Hydrate
Eat
Shower
Walk
Talk
CBD
Sleep
Summary

The highs that people experience after smoking cannabis vary. Some people may feel anxious and nauseous. A person may want to get “unhigh” soon after smoking cannabis. Tips on how to get unhigh range from drinking water to taking CBD.

When a person smokes cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) passes from the lungs into the bloodstream and then through the body to the brain. THC is the chemical that causes the “high.” The effects can be immediate and vary in potency.

The effects of the THC in cannabis depend on numerous factors, such as:

the potency of the weed (how much THC it contains)
the person’s prior experience with cannabis
the environment the person is in
genetic factors (e.g., how quickly THC breaks down in the body)
other drugs or substances, such as alcohol

When someone consumes cannabis in food or drink (known as edibles) instead of inhaling it, the psychoactive effects tend to kick in much later as the THC must first pass through the digestive system.

It can take from 30 minutes to an hour before a person feels any effects of weed if they eat or drink it. If they are smoking cannabis, the effects may occur sooner than this.

Some people may get impatient while waiting to get high and consume more. This can lead to people feeling too high because they are experiencing a reaction from two doses.

Consuming too much cannabis, either from smoking or eating, may result in a person wanting to come down from the high.

It is not unusual to feel anxious, paranoid, or confused after overindulging in weed. Increased heart rate, nausea, hallucinations, and panic can also be effects of consuming too much of it.

These effects are unpleasant but wear off gradually over a few hours. However, some people may wish to accelerate this process.

Keep reading to learn more about what people can do to reduce the high. Note that many of these tips are anecdotal or based on animal studies, which means they lack rigorous human research.

1. Shift the focus and relax

a man listening to music as that is how to get unhigh — To get “unhigh,” a person can try doing an activity that takes their mind off the fact that they are high.

If a person fixates on how high they feel, it sometimes leads to more intense feelings of panic and a sensation of being out of control. Doing something to occupy their mind may reduce the feeling of being high. For example, people can try:

listening to some favorite music
watching a film or some funny clips online
doing some breathing exercises or yoga
doing a jigsaw, doodling, or playing a computer game
doing something creative, such as playing an instrument or painting
being productive in a simple way, such as, organizing a wardrobe or doing some cleaning

2. Hydrate

Drinking plenty of water, tea, or other soft drinks to keep hydrated can also minimize discomfort from being too high. Having a dry mouth (xerostomia) from smoking or ingesting cannabis can make a person feel worse. The American Dental Association indicates a link between using cannabis and oral dryness.

A person could avoid drinking alcohol when they are already too high. It can worsen the effects of weed and the high feeling.

3. Eat

Some evidence suggests that cannabis consumption can lead to increased hunger and appetite. However, there are no scientific studies to support the anecdotal claim that eating will diminish the psychoactive effects of weed.

According to an older article in the British Journal of Pharmacology, compounds called terpenoids, found in some plant foods, might have therapeutic properties that may serve as an antidote to a cannabis high. There is a need for more research to confirm the benefits of these plant compounds.

Foods containing these compounds include:

Pine nuts

Pine nuts contain the terpenes pinene and limonene, which are also present in cannabis. Pinene’s ability to increase the number of neurotransmitters critical for memory formation may help with the mental fog of being too high.

Try eating a handful of raw pine nuts or toast them lightly in a dry pan for a few minutes.

Lemon

People have anecdotally cited lemon as a useful antidote to a cannabis high for centuries. In the 10th century, the Persian doctor Al-Razi advised: “one should drink fresh water and ice or eat any acid fruits” to avoid the ”harms” of ingesting cannabis seeds or hashish.

Lemons contain the terpene limonene, which gives the fruits their lemony smell. The effects of limonene on neurotransmitters in the brain could theoretically reduce a high. It may also help reduce some adverse responses, such as depression and anxiety.

Try zesting lemon skin into some hot water and sipping it. If available, steep herbs, such as lemon balm or lemon thyme, in water for the same effect.

Peppercorns

Scientists have found that pepper contains the terpene beta-caryophyllene, which may help increase a person’s clarity of thought and reduce anxiety. Most of this research is in mice, and more research is necessary in humans to understand its true effect.

Sniffing a few peppercorns might be enough to ease a high. A person could also try chewing on peppercorns or steeping them in hot water, along with some lemon rind.

There is no scientific evidence that peppercorns could ease the high.

Learn more about terpenes.

4. Take a shower

Running a hot shower to feel invigorated and refreshed can also help. A cold shower may be even more effective.

Feeling fresh may help a person regain a sense of control and encourage them to try other activities that will ease the high. This makes showering a good place to start.

5. Walk it off

Getting the body moving, even just a short stroll, can help regulate blood pressure. It can also take a person’s mind off their current situation.

Breathing deeply to replenish the air in the lungs and a change of scenery can also help distract the mind away from the high feeling.

6. Talk it through

A friend can be the voice of reason when someone is not thinking clearly. Speaking with someone to put things in perspective can be a great way to stop high thoughts.

Conversations can also distract a person from the high and calm their nerves. Speaking to someone might prevent a person from doing something harmful, such as driving under the influence.

7. Try some CBD

One older study showed that taking CBD can help reduce some of the more unpleasant side effects of taking cannabis, such as intoxication, sedation, and a racing heartbeat.

CBD and THC are both cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant. THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects of weed, while CBD, on its own, has no intoxicating effects.

CBD may reduce the THC high by blocking cannabinoid receptors in the brain and preventing THC from activating them.

A person could try dabbing some CBD oil on the tongue or consuming CBD gummies.

Learn more about the differences between CBD and THC.

8. Sleep

The fastest way to get unhigh is to sleep. Whether it be a nap or a longer sleep, sleeping will allow time to pass, which will, in turn, allow the effects of the THC to wear off.

However, if a person is feeling anxious after smoking weed or consuming edibles, falling asleep may be difficult. A person could try one or several of the above methods before trying to sleep.

Summary

If a person gets higher than they intended to, they can try to remember that it will pass in a few hours.

Several things may help if a person wishes or needs to get unhigh quickly. However, many of these methods and tips are anecdotal or based on animal studies and lack sufficient scientific evidence.

The best way forward is to try various options to see what works. Individuals are likely to react differently to THC in cannabis, as well as to the above methods when trying to come down from a high.

To avoid becoming too high, be cautious when smoking or ingesting cannabis. Always take small doses to begin with.

Nutrition / Diet
Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Marijuana / Cannabis / CBD

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Cannabis: Oral health effects. (2023). https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/cannabis-oral-health-effects
Cannabis (marijuana) DrugFacts. (2019). https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cannabis-marijuana
MacCallum CA, et al. (2018). Practical considerations in medical cannabis administration and dosing. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0953620518300049
Medical marijuana. (2020). https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085
Nathalie W, et al. (2019). Effect of acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration on subjective and metabolic hormone responses to food stimuli and food intake in healthy humans: A randomized, placebo-controlled study.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522031690
Russo EB. (2011). Taming THC: Potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/
Russo E, et al. (2006). A tale of two cannabinoids: The therapeutic rationale for combining tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987705004317?via%3Dihub
Stevens AK, et al. (2020). Does the combination matter? Examining the influence of alcohol and cannabis product combinations on simultaneous use and consequences in daily life. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8142286/
Zandkarimi F, et al. (2023). Comparison of the cannabinoid and terpene profiles in commercial cannabis from natural and artificial cultivation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9861703/

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Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Ruth Eagle — Updated on October 9, 2024

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